Home run winner flexes muscles for family

STOCKTON - Chris Gimenez had almost 50 friends and family members in Stockton Ballpark on Tuesday, and he made their trip from Gilroy worthwhile by winning the home run derby.

Jagdip Dhillon and Lori Gilbert

STOCKTON - Chris Gimenez had almost 50 friends and family members in Stockton Ballpark on Tuesday, and he made their trip from Gilroy worthwhile by winning the home run derby.

Gimenez, an infielder for the Kinston Indians of the Carolina League, hit 12 home runs in two rounds, including seven in the final, to edge out Stockton Ports catcher Anthony Recker for the $500 prize. The Gilroy native said having his loved ones watching him live made it a great experience.

"This was awesome," Gimenez said. "I couldn't expect anything more."

Gimenez, 24, said the cash prize was the best part.

"I need that more than anything. That's like an extra paycheck right now," Gimenez said. "I'm going to spend it on bills and buy something nice for my girlfriend."

Recker almost gave the hometown crowd what it wanted, but he fell two home runs short in the final. He was in his home park and had Ports hitting coach Tim Garland pitching to him, but he said it was tougher than it might seem.

"During the game it's not something you're trying to do," Recker said. "When you come out here and try to do it, it's tough. You exert a lot of energy and a lot of swings. You get tired swinging that much."

The Oakland Athletics announced they extended their operating agreement with the Stockton Ports through 2010.

The Ports have served as the Single-A affiliate of the Athletics since the 2005 season, the year Stockton Ballpark opened.

"We've always been big on loyalty," A's general manager Billy Beane said. "There's no reason to interrupt a good thing."

Stockton's proximity to Oakland, along with the relationship with Ports owner Tom Volpe, Beane said, were part of the Ports' selling points, along with the stadium. Beane was the keynote speaker at the Ports luncheon on Tuesday afternoon.

Volpe's vision became a reality Tuesday night, and he came back from Dubai to soak it all in.

The Ports owner is spending a year running the Dubai Group, but he came back for the big event. Volpe said general manager Pat Filippone and his staff did a great job in organizing and executing the activities.

"It's exceeded what I was expecting and I had high expectations," Volpe said. "The crowd was great, and all the activities were good."

Volpe said he was most proud of the compliments he got from Carolina League team officials about how beautiful the ball-park was.

"It's one of the best ballparks in either of the two leagues," Volpe said. "It was nice to show it off."

Volpe said he was pleased with the contract extension with the A's, saying Oakland's front office was "great people and great business partners."

Former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff and former Playboy Playmate and Lodi High graduate Bridget Marquardt might have had the longest day of anyone involved with the event.

Both sat in the sun and signed autographs during the fan fest and then threw out the ceremonial first pitches to Recker.

Biletnikoff and Marquardt also signed all-star jerseys that were auctioned off after the game. The Ports estimated that more than 1,500 people attended fan fest.

Ports and California League manager Darren Bush had an easy day at the office.

Bush and pitching coach Garvin Alston couldn't allow any of their 11 pitchers to throw more than 30 pitches, and they mapped out what inning each hurler was going to pitch in before the game.

The Cal League had only three extra position players, so Bush knew he wouldn't have to make too many changes.

Bush penciled in his own closer, Patrick Currin, to pitch the ninth inning. In fact, Currin was summoned with two outs in the eighth.

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